Linebacker Geno Hayes started the first 14 games of last season for the Jaguars, but ended the year on injured reserve because of a knee injury that required surgery after the season came to an end.

Hayes has recovered well from the surgery, though, and he’s gotten the green light to go ahead with his pursuit of a starting job in 2014. Hayes has been given full medical clearance by the team’s doctors and says that he’s experiencing no lingering issues with the knee.

“We did it the smart way instead of trying to push it and then going back to square one,” Hayes said, via the Florida Times-Union. “Right now, it’s doing well and I’ve been able to run and cut without any problems.”